What we do

Behold the Heart which has loved men so much - Jesus to St Margaret Mary.

This divine heart is an abyss filled with all blessings, and into it the poor should submerge all their needs. It is an abyss of joy in which all of us can immerse our sorrows. It is an abyss of lowliness to counteract our foolishness, an abyss of mercy for the wretched, an abyss of love to meet our every need. - St Margaret Mary.

It was in the tiny village of Paray-le-Monial that Jesus revealed his Sacred Heart to St Margaret Mary. In 1985 the Bishop of Autun entrusted the Sanctuary of Paray-le-Monial to the Emmanuel Community, who today welcome 300,000 pilgrims each year. The chaplains re-present to them the message of Paray, of the Lord's infinite and transformative love and mercy, as well as introduce the pilgrims to each of the different places of prayer.

Since 1975, the Community has organised Summer 'Sessions' in Paray, week-long encounters with great witnesses of the faith, prayer, teaching, and fraternity, all centred around the Eucharist.

2. Schools of Mission

An intensive nine-month program of formation for young people aged 18 to 30, the community operates four Schools of Mission around the world in Rome (Italy), Paray-le-Monial (France), Altotting (Germany) and Manila (Phillipines).

The objective of the Emmanuel School of mission is to enrich and deepen its students in their faith in an intensive but pastoral environment. The aim is that each student, by way of community-life, study, mission and spiritual guidance, develops in their personal relationship with God, grows in authentic freedom and responsibility and is fashioned into a proficient and insightful missionary. The course is directed at youth who truly desire to learn more about their faith and commit themselves to spreading the Gospel in their own countries in order to become builders of a civilisation of love and hope in Christ.

Fidesco is an international Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) that recruits and trains volunteers before sending them for one or two year missions to under-served areas of the world. The volunteers make their professional skills available to the needy through humanitarian and development projects. Fidesco aims at the full development of all human beings without regard to religion, ethnic or culture differences.

Fidesco has a strong international presence through local partnerships in 35 countries and 11 representative offices. Since its inception in 1981, Fidesco has sent over 1,300 volunteers. Currently, the organization has over 180 volunteers in 35 countries.

Fidesco unites faith and action. Without action, our faith will be angel-ism. Without faith, action is simply solidarity. Charity unites the two. This is the road map that Pope Benedict XVI has given to Fidesco and the Emmanuel Community in Rome on February 3, 2011, “May the glow of your love be a strength to build a more just and fraternal world.”

4. Love & Truth

The community organises Love & Truth evenings throughout the year in Sydney and Melbourne. These are evenings which are opportunities for married couples to deepen their understanding of marriage and their love for each other. Dates for 2014 will soon be announced.